Using AI Research Tools to Challenge Support for Police Violence in Brazil
A Brazilian civil society group, Instituto Fogo Cruzado, partnered with Future Narratives Lab to use an AI-based interviewer tool to research public support for police violence in favelas.
The AI tool successfully conducted 28 in-depth interviews with a hard-to-reach, pro-police-raid demographic, uncovering key insights into their underlying beliefs.
The study found that pragmatic messaging regarding police incompetence and lack of training was more effective than traditional empathy-based narratives.
Findings revealed that Brazilian Evangelical participants often hold nuanced views centered on redemption and distrust of elites, challenging common assumptions about their political alignment.
The research methodology has been shared with 20 other Brazilian organizations to prepare for the October 2026 general election.
Research Methodology and AI Application
The AI Interviewer tool enabled researchers to compress weeks of fieldwork into days at a significantly lower cost.
Participants were selected based on demographic profiles—specifically lower-income, non-higher education, and Christian—that typically support aggressive policing.
The tool engaged in structured but adaptive 30-minute conversations to probe inconsistencies and reasoning behind participant views on crime and police tactics.
To address ethical concerns, the researchers focused on privacy-protecting, open-source solutions rather than standard "frontier" AI models.
Findings and Strategic Implications
The most effective counter-narrative identified was: "The police aren’t sufficiently trained or prepared, so carrying out raids in crowded favelas only leads to more shootouts and more innocent victims."
The research showed that targeting police "incompetence" resonated more than focusing on structural injustice or victim empathy.
Future efforts aim to apply these insights to shift public opinion on security policy in the lead-up to the 2026 elections.